An explosion struck a gas plant in Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial city on Sunday evening, injuring an unspecified number of workers, according to the state’s interior ministry. Civil defence teams rushed to the site and brought the ensuing fire under control. No release of gas or hazardous material has been detected that would threaten public safety, officials said in statements. The blast was heard by journalists in Doha, roughly 80 kilometres to the south, and a plume of smoke and flames were visible from coastal areas.

Qatari authorities described the incident as an internal explosion triggered by a “technical malfunction” during the start‑up of operations at the Barzan local gas supply facility. QatarEnergy, the state‑owned operator, confirmed that emergency response crews were deployed immediately and the fire was contained. The company did not disclose whether production or export capacity was affected. The number of injured and the severity of their wounds remain unconfirmed.

The Ras Laffan complex is the world’s largest hub for liquefied natural gas, central to Qatar’s role as a top global LNG supplier. The site was badly damaged earlier this year in a series of Iranian strikes during a regional conflict, Tehran‑based media noted, forcing a temporary halt to production that cut export capacity by an estimated 17 percent and triggered force majeure declarations by Qatari energy partners. However, authorities in Doha emphasised that Sunday’s explosion stemmed from an internal operational fault and made no link to any external action. The incident coincides with the start of renewed Iran‑U.S. negotiations in Switzerland, according to Persian‑language outlets.

An investigation into the precise cause is ongoing, the interior ministry said, while teams continue to monitor the site. No further details on the condition of the injured or on any operational impact have been released.